http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto_Santo_Stefano Porto Santo Stefano is a seaport town on the west coast of Italy, in the municipality of Monte Argentario, in the Province of Grosseto, Tuscany. It is the municipal seat of Monte Argentario[2] and one of the two major towns that form the township, along with Porto Ercole. The region is on the slopes of Mount Argentario, which dominates the whole area. Porto Santo Stefano is 150 kilometres (95 miles) northwest of Rome. The town is divided into four historical districts, each with its own coat of arms (gonfalone) banner: Croce (Cross), whose nobles are called crociaioli, its coat of arms depicts a gray seagull on a red background, above the red cross of Saint Andrew on a white background. Fortezza (Fortress), whose nobles are called fortezzaioli; its coat of arms depicts a Spanish fortress in gold on a red background on the left side, and a golden horse to the right on an amaranth background. Pilarella, whose nobles are called pilarellai; its coat of arms depicts a golden vase in a red background on the left, and a light gray dolphin to the right on a blue background. Valle (Valley), whose nobles are called vallaioli; its coat of arms depicts an axe and the lighthouse. Because of the increased exposure to pirate raids, the center had low priority during the rule of Aldobrandeschi and of the Republic of Siena, but with its entry into the State of Presidi in the mid-16th century, the town became a center of great importance in Argentario. It was during this the construction of the Spanish Fort began, a powerful defensive structure that now hosts a permanent exhibition "Submerged Memories". Like all other centers in the area, Porto Santo Stefano joined the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in the first half of the 19th century. Besides the fortress, the territory still plays host to two Spanish lookout towers; Lividonia and dell'Argentiera, the latter situated on the slopes of Mount Argentario which dominates the whole Santo Stefano area. In January 2012, the seaport received the shipwreck survivors of the Costa Concordia disaster, transported from the nearby Giglio Island.

The Tuscany, one of the most beautiful Italian regions, is known throughout the world for its Landscapes and for the Works of Art that it houses (It is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance). Six localities have been designated World Heritage Sites: the Historical Center of Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and Pienza, the Square of the Cathedral of Pisa with the Leaning Tower and the Val d'Orcia. It is in the central Italy and borders with Emilia Romagna (north), Marche and Umbria (east) and Lazio (South). The West coast is bathed from the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Sea; here we can find the islands of the Tuscan archipelago including the island of Elba. The regional capital is Florence and the other provinces are: Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena.

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